Power Systems Analysis

This is a good book for power systems analysis. It would have been nice as a hardcover. Other than that it is a quality book that has very detailed and helpful examples to help convey the complicated material.

As a teacher and researcher working in the power systems area for more than 35 years, I have great pleasure in welcoming a revised edition of Art Bergen's classic book on Power Systems Analysis. When the first edition came out in 1986, it was a trend setter for those entering an academic career. The presentation was fresh and different with challenging problems added to each chapter. The book combined control system concepts with power system models and provided insight into dynamic operation of power systems. In the last three decades, power system analysis has made great progress and mathematical techniques of optimization and matrix analysis have become entrenched in problem solution. Matlab has become de facto tool for use in the class room. The revised edition recognizes these facts, and without affecting the originality of the first edition supplements material that is indispensable to any student of power systems. It is a difficult balancing act to provide the required mathematical knowledge without losing track of the practical nature of power systems. I feel that Vittal has achieved this.There is a number of other books on power system analysis in the market, but the approach in most of the cases is similar to the classic book of Stevenson. I would recommend the book for a senior level power system course in a 4-year program and as a reference to graduate students requiring a foundation in power systems.

This is a superior textbook for a senior level course in power systems analysis. Readers expecting an introductory text are barking up the wrong tree. The strength of Bergen and Vittal is in its rigorous mathematical approach to power system analysis. The math is at the core of the analytical programs that permeate practical power systems engineering today. Those seeking to write such programs, or to use them intelligently, will have Bergen and Vittal in their library and refer to it often. Compared to Glover and Sarma or Stephenson (both decent texts themselves), Bergen and Vittal goes one level deeper in detail.

For years I taught power systems, and this was one of my favorite books. Power system today requires an understanding of large systems and the mathematics behind them up front -- in these days of computer analysis, it is essential that students know the basics well. If anything, I fault the book a bit for its slightly incomplete coverage of those aspects of the power system that are necessary to understand the interplay between the physics of the system flows and power system markets. The revisions of the latest edition have helped keep the book current. I still keep this book handy on my shelf for all those times when I must pull it out to help someone else with the understanding of some aspect of another of the system.

Surprisingly this book is a great practical reference for practicing power systems engineers. There are several key problems that may be useful in practice that were very helpful.